WILLS - MC Rules Review Flashcards
(39 cards)
In Florida, a will must be subscribed - signed at the END. If there is a dispositive (disposes of property) provision BELOW the testator’s signature, the ENTIRE WILL IS INVALID.
If there is a non-dispositive provision added after the signature, the will would be valid and admitted to probate, but the provision would be disregarded. Only the words present on the will at the time it was executed are part of the duly executed will.
If a will beneficiary dies during the testator’s lifetime, the gift to that beneficiary lapses. However, under FL’s anti-lapse statute, if the B is a grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of T, and left descendent who survive the T, the gift is “saved” for those descendants.
SO - generally, goes to kids if parent beneficiary dies. Substituted for beneficiary.
In Florida, a provision in a will purporting to penalize a person for contesting a will or instituting other proceedings relating to the estate ( a “no contest clause”) is UNENFORCEABLE.
Question is one for trier of fact. Other states do allow provision.
Presence of Witnesses - 3 requirements
- Testator must sign or acknowledge her previous signature in the witnesses’ presence (present at the same time)
- the two(2) witnesses must sign in the testator’s presence, and
- the witnesses must sign in each other’s presence.
The Testator need not actually sign in the W’s presence but he may acknowledge a previous signature. However, Ws need to sign together.
In FL, there is no rule that a W signing a will has to be disinterested - can be a beneficiary. Does not make the Will invalid.
However, if there is a dispute on the will or questions about coverage or gifts, the Witness who signed who is now testifying as to the contents of the will has to be disinterested.
Normally a testator has the right to name the person who shall administer her estate, the Court has no discretion but to issues letters testamentary to the person nominated in the will, unless the person is disqualified by statute.
REQUIREMENTS for QUALIFICATION -
- 18 or older, 2. has mental capacity, 3. has never been convicted of a felony, and
- is a resident of Florida.
Non-residents can serve if they are out of state grandparent or descendant of grandparent (relative) , an adopted child, spouse or person related by lineal consanguinity to the decedent’s spouse, or spouse of such persons. In laws are generally ok.
Adminsitration Types:
- a. Ancillary - for non-residents with Fl property
- Full administration - over $75,000
- Summary administration - under $75,000
- No administration - personal property only whose value is less than value of exempt property
Ancillary adminstration is necessary when a non-resident dies leaving assets in FL.
USDA - FL follows, which provides that when disposition of property depends on the order of death, and there is insufficient evidence that the persons have died other than sumultaneously, the property of each person is disposed of as if that person survivied.
UNELSS there is a contrary intention appears on the governing instrument, like a will containing a provision on simultaneous death
Will provisions would trump USDA, and if there is no will, estate would pass through intestacy
The Doctrine of dependent relative revocation (DRR) is an equity type doctrine under which a court may disregard T’s revocation, if it determines that the act of revocation was premised on a mistake of law or fact, and would not have occurred but for the testator’s mistaken believe that another disposition of his property was valid.
If the other disposition is ineffective for some reason, the recovation accompaniytin ghte attempted disposition also fails and the will remains in force. Usually used by a court to give effect to the testator’s intent, for example, if T mistakenly believed that one of his beneficiaries had died and that person was really alive.
Out of state wills will be enforced if they meet the signature and attestation requirements of the local jurisdiction where it was signed, PROVIDED it was not a holographic or oral will (never valid in FL)
Wills in a foreign language must be accompanied by an English translation for the court. But admissible to probate in FL if validly executed under the laws of the state or country where the Testator was at the time of the will’s execution.
*EXAM TIP* - read question and make sure T was not just ON VACATION in another jurisdiction, but really resided in FL
Florida has a special short statute of limitations that applies to claims against a D’s estated. A creditor who was servied with a copy of the notice of administration must file its claims with the court before the LATER of
(i) 3 months after the date of the first publication of the notice of administration, OR (ii) 30 days after the date of the service of the notice. 3 month deadline.
Creditors - assume 90 days (later) deadline for filing claims, count dates.
In Florida, extrinsic documents (not present at the time the will was executed) may be incorporated into the will by reference so that it is considered as a part of the will, Requirements: (i) the document mst be in existence at the time the will was executed, (ii) the will must sufficiently describe the writing to permit its identification, and (iii) the will must manifest an intent to incirporate the document.
Exception: A written list of tangible personal property - that CAN be allowed if (a) in writing signed by the testator, and (b) descirbing the items and the devisees with reasonable certaintly.
The writing may, but need NOT, be referred to as one in existence at the time of the T’s death, and may be prepared before or after the execution of the will, and can be altered by the testator after its initial preparation.
Once an estate is completely administered, and the personal representative discharged, the administration will NOT be reopened upon discovery of a later will.
However, an administration may be reopened upon discovery of additional estate property.
Joint or multiple personal representatives - need a majority to agree on all acts connected with administration of the estate unless the will provides another method. The rule does not apply if there is an emergency action required, or one personal representative has been designated to act on behalf of the others.
If a personal representative disagrees with a course of action of the other PRs, he must objet in writing to record his dissent at or before the time of the action. If dissent is properly recorded, PR cannot be held personally liable for the decision.
Negligent handling of estate property breaches the standard of care personal representatives are held to.
The right to disclaim an interest in an estate is barred if any of the following occur before the disclaimer becomes effective: (i) the beneficiary accepts the proeprty or any of its benefits, (ii) the B voluntary assigns his interest , transfers it or encumbers it (with mortgage, for example) or the property is sold pursuant to judicial process, or (i) the beneficiary is INSOLVENT. Insolvent beneficiaries cannot disclaim so as not to defraud creditors.
Requirements for Disclaimer: (i) must be in a writing and identified as a disclaimer, (ii) describe the interest or power being disclaimed, (iii) be signed, witnessed and acknowledged, and (iv) be delivered. There is NO TIME LIMIT for disclaimer but as a practical matter should be done asap.
If the D is survived by one or more children or more remote D’s who are not the D’s of the surviving spouse, the SS takes 50% of the estate and the remaining 50% passes to the D’s lineal descendants per stirpes.
In Florida, stirpital shares are alwyas divided a thte first generational level (usually child level) and grandkids take as representatives of a previously deceased parent.
ORDER OF PAYMENT for CREDITORS and INSOLVENT ESTATES
- Class 1: costs & expenses of administration and compensation of personal representatives and their attorneys, and attorney fees awarded against estate’
- Class 2: Reasonable funeral, interment and grave market expense up to $6k
- Class 3: Debts and taxes with preference uner federal law, medicaid claims and state costs
- Class 4: reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last SIXTY (60) days of the last illness of the decedent
- Class 5: Family allowance
- Class 6: arrearage from court ordered child support
- Class 7: Debts acquired after death by the continuiation of the decedent’s business, to the value of the business assets, and
- Class 8: all other claims
“All other claims” are subject to TIMING of filing by creditors - must file no later than 90 days from notice of administration. Even court orders/judgments previously issued.
Divorce or Annulment following execution of a will revokes all gifts AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMNETS, in favor of the former spouse made by the will. FL applies the rule to revocable trusts, LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES< and any other interest in an asset that is to transfer to the spouse at death.
Designation of spouse as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy is revoked by law and the contigent beneficiary would take the proceeds, or defaults to estate residuary. Divorced spouse will not be administrator either.
Once validly executed, a will may be revoked only by the methods prescribd by statute or permitted by case law. To revoke a will by physical act, the act must be done to an EXECUTED COPY Of the will. the descriction of an unexecuted copy has no effect.
Also, in Florida, a will cannot be PARTIALLY REVOKED by physical act - a cross out is disregarded . However, a CODICIL can be revoked by a physical act that acncels, defaces, or obliterates the codicil, or by executing a subsquent written instrument with the same formalities as required for the execution of the will. Needs to be fully cancelled, defaced or oblterated.
Revocation by physical act does not otherwise require subscribing witnesses.
A testator always has the right to revoke his will, if a will is found to be contractual, the second will is probated. however, there may be an action for breach of contract against the decednts estate and the remedy may be the imposition of a contrstucive trust upon the beneficiaries under the will.
An agreement to make a will or not to revoke a will must be in writing AND SIGNED BY THE AGREEING PARTY IN THE PRESENCE OF two wintesses.
DESTRUCTION by ANOTHER PERSON is ok provided the revocation is (a) at the testator’s direction and (b) in the testator’s presence
under the doctrine of adepmption, when specifically bequeathed property is not in the T’s estate at death (destroyed, given away, sold previously), the bequest is adeemed and failes. Only applies to specific devises and bequests .
KEY ISSUE = Specific devise? A general legacy is a bequest of a dollar amount that is payable out of the general assets of the estate without a clam on any particular source of payment. A demonstrative legacy is a gift that specifies an asset as the source of funds (sale of stock, for example). A specific legacy is a gift of property that is particularly designated ans is to be satisied only by the receipt of the particular property described.
A bequest of securities is construed as general if possible, to avoid application of ademption. Depends on the use of the word MY - “My shares of AT&T stock” is a specific bequest subject to ademption but “from shares of GM stock” would not be a specific gift and no ademption, other assets could be paid.
If there are kids, surviving spouse gets a life estate in the homestead with a vested remainder to the lineeal descendants in being at the time of T’s death. In lieu of a life estate, Spouse may elect to take an undivided one half interest in the homestead as a tentant in common, with the remaining undivided 50% interest in the kids.
NOTE - HOUSE has to be titled in T’s name alone to be considered homestead . Property held by spouses jointly with a right of survivorship does not qualify as homestead.
Pursuant to the Florida Constitution, in order to qualify for the homestead creditor exemption, three conditions must be satisfied: 1) acreage limitations, 2) residency requirements, and 3) ownership requirements.24 Provided all three of these conditions are satisfied, creditors of the person claiming the homestead creditor exemption will not be able to force sale of or place a lien on the homestead property.25 This article now examines how co-ownership of property affects the homestead creditor protection.
• Tenants by the Entirety — Only married couples can own property as tenants by the entirety,and there is a presumption that real property acquired during marriage is owned as suchThis form of ownership treats married couples as one unit — each spouse having an undivided interest in the property. Provided either spouse qualifies for the homestead creditor exemption, the property will be afforded protection from either spouse’s creditors.
Co-ownership of property will not prevent an owner from claiming the homestead creditor exemption; however, the status of each co-owner impacts the level of creditor protection retained by the property. When all co-owners qualify for the homestead creditor exemption, the home will be exempt from forced sale and liens.
Elective Share: 30% of the elective estate, which is the probate estate plus certain non probate assets and will substitutes, revocable trusts, survivorship property.
Elective share is IN ADDITION to the spouse’s right to exempt property, family allowance and homestead.
Spouse does not need to be a FL resident to take an elective share. Prevents a surviving spouse from disinheritance. Can take statutory share of the estate INSTEAD of taking under the decedent’s will.
However, prenuptial agreement can change elective share - parties can agree to waive elective share or get another distirbution allocaiton.
Collateral Kindred - Where property passess to collateral kindred of the intestate, if some of the kin are of half blood and some are of the whole blood, those of the half blood inherit only half as much as those of the whole blood.
Half-relatives get 50% share of what full blood gets
Evidence that a will provision is the result of a mistake of fact or law always is admissible and if proven, will result in reformation of the will
Admissible even to resolve a patent ambiguity, on face of will.
